Episode alternatives
Users often leave Episode due to its heavy reliance on in-app purchases for meaningful choices and story progression. Alternatives offer different approaches to interactive storytelling, some with fewer paywalls, diverse content, or unique gameplay mechanics.
Why users look for alternatives to Episode
- Many users feel forced to spend gems or real money for good choices, outfits, and to advance stories, making the game feel "pay to play".R3R4R11R16
- Players are frustrated by the difficulty of earning gems for free, often requiring watching many ads for small amounts or relying on surveys that don't always pay out.R6R8R11R12
- There are complaints about the decline of community stories and the focus on Episode Original stories, which are perceived as having too many gem choices and being less engaging.R1R45R47
- Some users report technical issues like the app not working, connection errors, or losing diamonds and data.R34R35R45R49
- Users find the story creation process difficult due to the need for coding knowledge.R2
- Concerns exist regarding inappropriate content for younger audiences and a lack of diverse character customization options.R30R36R40R43
The alternatives
AMAZE!!! is a casual puzzle game where players guide a ball to paint mazes, offering a relaxing experience R58R64. It is simple and can be played offline R64.
Better for: This game is better for users looking for a simple, relaxing puzzle game to pass the time, especially if they prefer games that don't require an internet connection R58R64. It is not a story-based game like Episode.
Head-to-head: Episode vs AMAZE!!!Parking Jam 3D is a puzzle game focused on unblocking cars from a parking lot, which some users find fun and a good way to spend time R66R69R72. It also includes mini-games R66.
Better for: Parking Jam 3D suits players who enjoy puzzle games with a clear objective and don't mind frequent ads R69. It's a different genre entirely from interactive story apps R66R72.
Head-to-head: Episode vs Parking Jam 3DChoices offers interactive stories with detailed narratives and character development, and has been praised for its inclusivity and creative storytelling in its earlier years . Some users appreciate the ability to play stories even without paying for premium choices, though this has changed over time .
Better for: Choices is better for users who appreciate a long history of interactive storytelling and character inclusivity, particularly if they are interested in older stories . However, recent changes involving AI-generated content and increased paywalls might deter new users R79R81R82R85.
Head-to-head: Episode vs ChoicesChapters provides an engaging format for reading interactive stories, with some users finding it addictive and appreciating community-created stories that have more reasonable gem requirements R93R95. It also offers an audio option for stories R98.
Better for: Chapters is suitable for readers who enjoy a wide range of stories and might find community-made content more accessible in terms of gem costs R95. It's also a good option for those who prefer an audio experience with their stories, though this feature is behind a paywall R98. However, like Episode, it faces criticism for expensive gem choices R93R96.
Head-to-head: Episode vs ChaptersMy Story offers interesting and engaging interactive stories, with users getting hooked on the narratives R108. It allows players to customize their characters and clothes .
Better for: My Story is for users who prioritize compelling storylines and character customization within an interactive fiction format R108. However, it shares the common issue of requiring many gems for desirable choices and outfits, which can be expensive or difficult to earn R109R110R112.
Head-to-head: Episode vs My StoryYou should stick with Episode if you are a long-time player who enjoys the specific drama and plot twists of its stories, especially if you are accustomed to its gem system or find ways to earn gems through surveys . It's also suitable if you appreciate the ability to date diverse characters .
Evidence note: AMAZE!!! and Parking Jam 3D are not interactive story apps and are included as they were requested, but their reviews indicate they are very different types of games.
Frequently asked
Why do Episode stories require so many gems?
Are there free ways to get gems in Episode?
Does Episode allow users to create their own stories?
What are the main issues with Choices?
What reviewers actually said
Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.
- [R3] Episode The gems: The game can be fun, but only really when you spend gems. I always stop playing because i get tired of not being able to make the stories fun. I wish they could lessen the amount of times you have to use gems, it really does ruin the experience and makes the game feel not worth playing.
- [R4] Episode Good game but bad game: The game is good but I don't like at all that for everything good in a story it has to be with gems, if you are a new player it will be very boring to play. I also hate that the tickets run out to be able to continue the story. It really makes me want to continue playing this game. Improve the gems, at least you can get them quickly and easily, to enjoy the game. Because it
- [R11] Episode Have to pay for everything just to have a fun story: For clothes , extra scenes and great positive choices you literally have to pay. It’s really sad and draining. Can’t enjoy a good game without using your hard earned money. I wouldn’t even consider playing this game. Every episode will cost you money. It’s even hard to earn this “gems” for free.
- [R16] Episode Yall fell off: Episode, yall become WAY too money hungry. Like, I can’t even enjoy a single episode/story without having to pay for diamonds just for a decent choice. Like, either throw a drink in your best friend’s face for free or pay 29 diamonds to save your reputation. Like WHAT!? What kind of choice is this!? There was a time we can choose our outfits for FREE and now anything decent looking
- [R6] Episode I love this game but…: I like playing this game because it’s very fun and messy but you can’t really do much because you have no gems and the only way to get them is to buy them or watch an add every like 10 minutes and you don’t even get a lot, people wants to buy new clothes and makes new decisions but can’t really be ur they have no gems
- [R8] Episode Love this game!! but there is a problem: this game has kept my gems away from me. i did a survey and they didnt give me what i was supposed to get the game is fun but i waited long to get my gems just to not actually get them
- [R12] Episode The game is really fun but: This game is really fun but every time I’m doing a fun story and j want to to go really well I keep having to watch a ton of adds just to get one good thing and I have to keep doing that over and over again there should be at least one GOOD thing. For example the amazing outfits you have to use gems just to get one of the good outfits but if you don’t have any gems you
- [R1] Episode VIP PACKAGES ARE TERRIBLE: I hate Episode Original stories. Too much gem choices that actually take away from the storyline. What once was built through the community stories, Episode abandoned them which suck since Community Stories will ALWAYS be better than the Episode Original Stories. I don’t like the face that they got rid of just getting tickets separately and having the VIP package that’s
- [R45] Episode Episode Deleted all of my Data: This game was okay. The only thing that really made it worth it was the creator stories because they didn’t cost a ridiculous amount of gems for good choices, except Episode took it upon themselves to delete my account at some point between today and yesterday, and now ten years of data is gone. All of my stories I’ve finished, all of the stories I was still current
- [R47] Episode A long time: I been on here for a long time an I think a lot has changed for one some of the old episode writers need to come back and finish their story.What can you do to bring them back an how can we keep comedy the same an it’s too many mafia stories how can episode be like back in the days when I first started to read.
- [R34] Episode diamonds: UGH I logged in after years and I lost my 240 diamonds smh I hate this app but the stories are so good. So mad tho.
- [R35] Episode Not working plz read this: This game is really fun but one thing is the gems are way too expensive but the most thing is when I re downloaded it and I was about to play it I tapped into it and it says that the app wasn’t working but it wasn’t my my Wi-Fi cause my Wi-Fi was working great I’ll show you a picture of what was happening please can you fix this this could be a major red flag if it’s no
- [R49] Episode Isn’t working: I love episode very much, and I love playing it and it’s so fun to play even if it is a little diamond obsessed I’ve found very good story’s over the years. So, when I wanted to play pretty little liar’s of course I went to the episode app. But when I did, it said connection error please try again, and gave me a retry button. And every single time I clicked it it kept saying the sam
- [R2] Episode Really fun: I love everything about this app, wonderful stories and amazing overall, but question, when you go to make a story how come you have to know to code to make one? Why don’t yall make it to where everyone could make a story if they wanted to without coding at all, I’ve tried to make stories and it’s super duper hard without any coding experience 💔
- [R30] Episode It's fine: It's ok but age rating should be a bit older
- [R36] Episode No: Very inappropriate and coat a bunch of money
- [R40] Episode Episode: When I was playing episode I was picking my character I went to the skin color and there was no black
- [R43] Episode The worst: Not good for little kids
- [R58] AMAZE!!! So fun and relaxing: I would love this to play this every day, but I have school
- [R64] AMAZE!!! It’s relax, but you never get ads: It’s relaxing that you never get eggs because I’m not and it takes and it don’t take to like when you’re not in Wi-Fi. It’s like you you don’t let you play with two games.
- [R66] Parking Jam 3D GREAT game: help me spend my time while not sleeping and the wood mini game in it is fun.
- [R69] Parking Jam 3D Tons of Fun: However, the ads are ridiculous. Everytime you advance, there’s an ad. You lose, there’s an ad. And everything in between, you guessed it, an ad. I now remember why I stopped playing.
- [R72] Parking Jam 3D Fun game: Fun game but there aren’t enough challenge levels. Need to add more challenge levels.
- [R79] Choices Disappointed: Choices has faced a rapid decline after beginning the use of Ai, we can see it in the horrible face models, awful character lines, and blurry backgrounds. I would once come back to this app every two hours to use my next key, now i find myself deleted the app as soon as I install it, always hoping it’s gotten better. You’d think after introducing VIP there’d be an incentive and profi
- [R81] Choices Downfall: It’s really unfortunate that this app has gone down hill. Starting stories then completely trashing the project because of layoffs is ridiculous. Using AI instead of original creators that built up your app is disappointing. As I’ve gone through recent reviews I have seen the same things. Decline in quality, increase in quantity, and decline in acknowledgement to the issues with their ap
- [R82] Choices A Heartbreak: I have been playing this game since I started college in 2017, and the past few years the app has become butchered. So many stories on here have really meant a lot to me, thats the only reason the app is still on my phone, to revisit what used to be but its hard to see what its become. Almost every story has these ai avatars that turn into a new person every time they change expressi
- [R85] Choices Don’t waste your time and money on the new stories…: VIP member for years. Used to love this app, and waited for new chapters to drop like clockwork. Now the writing and artwork are AI generated and the stories are ridiculously expensive. Instead of your choices mattering, and influencing the outcome of your story behind the scenes, you get two choices now: right or wrong. You pay to make the co
- [R93] Chapters Too much $: This is a really unique concept and really fun to engage with, however the amount of money required to purchase the diamonds in order to have any “fun” is astronomical.
- [R95] Chapters Great but beware the unfinished stories: The app is great when stories are completed and the story doesn’t ask for gems every single page. I have found a few great stories on the community page that take gems at the end of each chapter which to me is more reasonable. I also have fell into reading stories that seem to be updated until chapter 5 or 10 then they just stop even if you are paying gems
- [R96] Chapters Great stories but need more diamond options: I really enjoyed the app and the stories the only thing that sucks is having to purchase the diamonds to continue the story, there is no good way to continue without purchasing and that adds up quickly. As much as I enjoyed it I gotta say goodbye
- [R98] Chapters Come on, Chapters…: I’ve been a huge fan of Chapters for years, so when I found out they added an audio option for the stories, I was so excited, but I was devastated to see it behind a paywall. I understand why, but I feel like our friends at Chapters didn’t think of those who need audio aids to enjoy apps like this, like low-vision and blind people. Auto-play should be behind a paywall; a tool t
- [R108] My Story Love it!: One of my favorite games! Definitely needs more storiessss keep writing 🤍🤍
- [R109] My Story Minus: The game is not bad, it's interesting, but why do you only get 1 diamond for watching an ad? It used to be 9. At least make the choices cheaper. I don't want to watch 30-second ads 24 times for 24 diamonds. (To enter the game, turn on VPN) · translated
- [R110] My Story Need gems, please! 💎: I think this would be my ABSOLUTE favorite game if you didn't need gems for every choice! With every choice, there are two or three options. Hypothetically; let's say the guy asks you out on a date ❤️! You can choose to ACCEPT or DECLINE. But if you want to accept, you need at least 15-25 gems!! All the choices you really want you need gems. It's really sad 😔. With all the o
- [R112] My Story Cons: I'm giving it a 3 because the most suitable answer choices cost diamonds, which are almost never given! Another con is that the clothes you buy don't save in your wardrobe. Developers, please remove these cons. · translated
- [R13] Episode pay to play: character talk like a b….h if you not pay
- [R83] Choices Choices ! Do not change please: After having issues with some of the stories, turning from Free to play to VIP, I had quit and then came back recently and found out the choices is now changing to run TV.. AI and videos? What they should do is keep the Choices stories you play which is interactive the same and then have a separate app if people want to watch book videos. If these videos are not gon
Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store